We’re always interested in featuring rising artists such as LA-based singer-songwriter Kylie Hughes. Kylie has been involved in the music scene for a few years now but 2017 will open brand new opportunities with her upcoming album on the way. Get to know more about the artist with our Q&A below!
TYF: For our readers who are just learning about you, can you tell us how you got into the music industry in the first place? Did you know this is a career you’ve always wanted to get into?
Kylie Hughes: I have always been a music fan and I think that’s important when you are getting into the music industry. Sometimes it’s rough and sometimes it’s really, really hard but you have to love it to be doing it. I always knew I wanted to be doing music.
TYF: What’s the hardest thing you’ve experienced so far now that you’ve been working in the industry for some time? What’s the best thing?
Kylie Hughes: The hardest thing is not giving up and the best thing are those shows when people come up to me after and tell me, “that one song really spoke to me”… that makes all of the hard parts worth it.
TYF: I read in a previous interview that you actually studied Advertising in college which I found so interesting! What made you want to go into Advertising versus a major focusing on something music related? How has what you learned in college benefitted you today?
Kylie Hughes: Actually I started pursuing a degree in music when I started college and then I transitioned into advertising. Pepperdine’s music program is very classically based and wasn’t a great fit for my Pop sensibility. There wasn’t a lot of freedom to discover your “inner artist” haha… So, I found a creative outlet in advertising.
TYF: I also read that you’re working on an upcoming album which is exciting! How has it been putting everything together? What can our readers expect to hear on the album?
Kylie Hughes: It has been really fun! I feel like this album shows a full spectrum of who I am: The fun/sassy part, the introspective/serious part and all of the stuff in between.
TYF: How did working with Mike Shimshack come about? What’s the biggest takeaway you’ve learned while working alongside Mike?
Kylie Hughes: So I have had a long-term affair with Nashville… I love the city so, so much and almost went to school there BUT I’m still a California girl at heart. So in the end of 2015 I bought a place as a landing pad for when I am in Nashville. Mike was one of the first “co-writes” that I got set up on… Co-writes kinda feel like blind dates because either you have no chemistry and you never see that person again OR you’re a good fit and you keep going on ‘writing dates’ to see what songs come out of it. Mike was a good blind co-write date. We just meshed.
TYF: Since every artist has a different songwriting process, how would you explain yours?
Kylie Hughes: Casual – because it’s not the same process every time. Either it all flows and comes out really easily (and that’s how I prefer/usually my favorite songs) OR if I’m co-writing and the process is taking a little longer, I don’t let that stress me out and just let the some come as it comes.
TYF: When or how did you figure out what type of music you wanted to make in the long run? What genre would you categorize your music in, if any?
Kylie Hughes: Try and try and try again… I like to try all kinds of sounds and find what works for me, what works for my voice and what style is resonating with my audience. I think performing your material live is important because you can gauge what works and what doesn’t. So I don’t think I belong to one genre but if I were sitting in the cafeteria of music… There would be Taylor Swift at my table, Kacey Musgraves, KT Tunstall, Shakey Graves, Goodnight Texas, Elle King, William Fitzsimmons and the Haim girls… Tt’d be a cool table.
TYF: When do you know when a song or even your album is completely finished?
Kylie Hughes: When I’ve listened to it 100 times and can’t think of anything else to add. I think that songs definitely need an incubation period of listening before they are ready because if I released a song, right after I wrote it… There would be a million things I would wish I had changed the next day.
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TYF: Based off your music videos, you seem to be a complete natural in front of the camera! I guess it’s safe to assume the same could be said when you’re performing on stage. Did you ever have a hint of stage fright when you first started performing your own songs to complete strangers? Do you remember what your first performance was like?
Kylie Hughes: My first legit performance was in front of the entire 7th grade at my middle school, I did a worship song. The first time I did an original song in front of strangers was like 200 people at a summer camp. My first time playing with a band though, I was 17 and it was kind of a disaster. I wasn’t prepared at all. So I’ve come a long way. As far as nerves go though, being in front of a camera isn’t hard because there is not a “live” element so I have mostly anxious excitement. BUT when I perform live, I usually don’t eat hours before because I have nervous energy and I have a stomachache. The build up is the worst though because when I finally get up on stage, I’m fine.
TYF: With a new year comes vast new opportunities! What are your main goals for 2017 other than releasing your forthcoming album?
Kylie Hughes: That’s it, haha. And put out some music videos. Playing SXSW is also being checked off the bucket list! I don’t know… I don’t usually set a serious resolution because for me I also feel like my ‘New Year’ starts more in the fall… Does anyone else feel like that? My favorite past resolution I had though was “See more Sunrises”, great way to start or end your day.
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